On-crop Versus Off-crop Cycles

On-crop Versus Off-crop Cycles

Alternate bearing is a two-year on-crop/off-crop cycle that results in high-quantity harvests in one year, followed by small-quantity harvests in the next year.

Off-flowering/on-crop cycle

A large crop of smaller-sized avocados is harvested.

Fruit set and flowering are poor because the fruit inhibit the growth of apical buds on spring shoots that would produce vegetative shoots in summer/fall. This results in less nodes for floral/vegetative shoots the following spring.

Shoot growth is strong.

Starch is built up.

On-flower/off-crop cycle

A small crop of larger-sized avocados is harvested.

Fruit set and flowering are strong because there is significant growth of spring and fall shoots. Floral shoots will develop on this new growth the following spring.